Slipper faces car travel dishonesty charges

Updated
January 08, 2013 10:35:00

The former parliamentary speaker, now Independent, Peter Slipper, has been summonsed to appear in court next month over dishonesty offences. They're understood to relate to the alleged misuse of taxpayer funded taxi vouchers. The AFP says the case is in relation to three offences of 'dishonestly causing a risk of a loss to the Commonwealth'.

ASHLEY HALL: The former speaker of the House of Representatives, Peter Slipper, has been summonsed to appear in court next month over allegations he misused parliamentary taxi vouchers.

Mr Slipper faces being charged with three dishonesty offences, which AM understands relates to three hire car trips totalling about $900.

From Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Just under a month ago Peter Slipper had a big win. The Federal Court threw out James Ashby's sexual harassment case against his former boss, dismissing it as "an abuse of process".

Now police have summonsed the Independent MP to appear in court mid February in relation to three separate offences of quote "dishonestly causing a risk of a loss to the Commonwealth".

Those criminal charges, if proven, carry a potential jail penalty of five years.

The Attorney-General Nicola Roxon released a brief statement. It reads:

NICOLA ROXON STATEMENT (voiceover): "The decision to issue this summons was made by the AFP. The AFP is an independent statutory office. All defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence. Prejudicial commentary must be avoided to ensure a fair trial".

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Shadow Attorney Senator George Brandis says Mr Slipper may be entitled to the presumption of innocence, but Julia Gillard is not because she should never have made him speaker.

The Federal Police sent the initial findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions last July. Sources say the DPP decided in December there was a case to answer. Mr Slipper, police say, will be charged when he appears in court.

And another source has told AM the charges have nothing to do with the Ashby case, which initially included allegations - but were later withdrawn - that Mr Slipper had handed over blank Cabcharge vouchers.

AM's been told the AFP's allegation of dishonesty offences relates to three hire car trips in the first half of 2010, costing a total of about $900. But the AFP says it's not in a position to provide any further details or confirm speculation until the matter's heard in court.